Factory jobs return to O.C.

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Factory work is returning to Orange County.

Over the past three years, the growth of manufacturing employment here has outpaced growth in the U.S. But the type of work done here has changed dramatically over the years. Many apparel contractors have shut down, their work gone to China. Aerospace jobs were consolidated elsewhere.

Those jobs tend to be higher-skilled, and higher-paid. One in 5 O.C. manufacturing jobs is in computer and electronics products. The most highly skilled factory workers at Applied Medical Resources in Rancho Santa Margarita make more than $70,000.

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